Interest high in Stewart County August elections

DOVER, Tenn. – There seems to be an upsurge in political awareness and interest in Stewart County if the number of folks seeking office on Aug. 7 is any indication.

There also seems to be interest by some of the younger folks in the community, which should make residents who are worried about the future of the world rest a little easier.

Two retirements have opened up elected positions in Stewart County. As a result, four candidates have set their sights on being the new trustee, and three are going for road superintendent.

There is also a two-way race between an incumbent and a challenger in the county mayor, the sheriff and the Circuit Court clerk races.

Five of the seven county districts have at least once challenger to face the two incumbents, and out of the four school board districts whose representatives are up for election, two incumbents have opposition.

And that’s just the county offices.

On the state level, there is even action in the 75th District, Tennessee House.

Trustee, road superintendent

Longtime Stewart County Trustee Wilby Williams is retiring Sept. 1, and the upcoming vacancy has enticed four candidates to run for the job: Laura Harrison Crain, Fritz Gray, Jeffery M. Knott and Amanda Crutcher Lee.

They have big shoes to fill, as Williams was known as an experienced, proactive money manager with an eye for detail. Her office’s state audits never contained significant findings.

While money is tight and offices have been economizing, the county is on sound financial footing with adequate fund balances. Debt is manageable at this point, and recent state audits contain no significant findings, so at least candidates can be assured they would not be walking into a mess.

Jerry Cunningham, who served as county road superintendent for many years, is also retiring, and three contenders have stepped in to try to fill the void.

Road superintendent candidates must first be certified by the state, which means that they are qualified for that office should they win.

Marlon Gillespie, Andy R. Lemons and Gary N. Page all passed that first hurdle and are hoping to become the next superintendent.

Cunningham had faced many challenges in the past few years, with prices on petroleum-based products quadrupling in some cases, state street aid diminishing and floods devastating roads and bridges across the county.

All three candidates have their own takes on how to keep within a budget while continuing to build on Cunningham’s work of improving county roads.

Mayor, sheriff, Circuit Court clerk

Incumbents are facing challengers in three other main races: mayor, sheriff and Circuit Court clerk.

Rickie D. Joiner, who is in his fourth term as Stewart County mayor, is facing opposition from newcomer Jonathan W. Anglin in the latter’s first foray into public office.

Meeting the county’s needs on a tight budget is the focus; ongoing projects include the construction of a new jail as well as a grant-funded fire headquarters, possible expansion of water and sewer in the county and the possible acquisition of natural gas capabilities.

The sheriff’s race pits incumbent Deryk Wyatt against challenger Frankie Gray. Both Stewart County residents have extensive experience in law enforcement. The challenges of finishing construction of the new jail as well as staffing and maintaining it might seem more manageable to those veterans than it would to a law enforcement novice.

Both also had to be certified by the state before qualifying for the election locally.

In the Circuit Court clerk race, incumbent Jason Wallace is once again squaring off against Cindy Byrd Winfrey, who used to work in that office.

Continuous changes in state laws about jury duty and other functions of the clerk’s office keep that elected position busy, but both candidates are well aware of the challenges. Upgrades in the office technology have made some functions easier, however.

Voters from each district elect two representatives to the Stewart County Commission every four years. In this election on Aug. 7, there could be up to six new commissioners, if each challenger won his or her race.

This is a far cry from a number of years ago, when disgruntled citizens replaced well over half of the 14 commissioners.

In District 1, incumbents James Marty Grasty and Jimmie Mullins are facing off against challengers James “Jimmy” P. Newman Jr. and Brian “Bone” Tiebor.

A number of scenarios are possible, with either the incumbents winning, both challengers winning, or one incumbent and one opponent winning. The state provides training for new commissioners, a definite plus for the district if two new commissioners are elected.

District 2 features incumbents Phillip Castile and Randall Redmon facing newcomer Adam Lamb. Either one or both of the incumbents will be elected.

This is the same for District 3, where incumbents Shane Keatts and Eric L. Watkins are facing a challenge from Pam McGhee; District 6, where incumbents Marty Blane and Andy Luton are opposing Howard L. Hollis; and District 7, where incumbents Jerry W. Barnes and Mark A. Dortch are running against challenger Jan D. Black.

In only two districts are there no opponents in the commission race: District 4, with incumbents Terry Y. Fitzhugh and Vincent J. Gray, and District 5, with incumbents Roger D. Allen and Don Cherry.

School Board

Only four school board seats are up for election, and two incumbents are running unopposed, District 1’s Darrell Gillum and District 7’s Lana A. Sanders.

In District 4, Gary W. Dacus III is challenging incumbent Billy Gray, and in District 5, Jason Acres is running against incumbent Lesa Fitzhugh.

Tennessee primary

In the 75th District Tennessee House race, Democrats Charles W. Cooper and Randy Patton are squaring off to find out who will face incumbent Republican Tim Wirgau in the November election. In August, Wirgau is running unopposed.

For the U.S. Senate seat, Christian Agnew, incumbent Sen. Lamar Alexander, Joe Carr, George Shea Flinn, John D. King, Brenda S. Lenard and Erin Kent Magee are all seeking the Republican nomination. Terry Adams, Gordon Ball, Larry Crim and Gary Gene Davis are all seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to run in the Nov. 4 election.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, 7th District, incumbent Rep. Marsha Blackburn is being challenged by Jacob Brimm for the Republican nomination to run in the November election. Credo Amouzouvik and Daniel Cramer are seeking the Democratic nomination.

Keith Jackson is running unopposed for Democratic State Executive Committeeman, and Linda Adams Barnes is running unopposed for Democratic State Executive Committeewoman.

Judicial retention

This year’s ballot also will contain judicial retention questions – 23 of them. That might be one good reason to vote early; Stewart County Election Administrator Nellie Anderson said it could take voters 8-10 minutes to get through the ballot.